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When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life

London-skyline_CS
“Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”
— Samuel Johnson

 

London is an amazing fusion of cultures that makes it a great place to live. According to the 2011 Census, only 45% of Londoners are  white British. The capital also had both the largest proportion of residents born outside the UK (37%) and non UK nationals (24%.) There are literary hundreds of different cultures all coexisting in harmony within the city. As a result individuals coming from different cultures find freedom to live their life and express themselves in a way that would be unimaginable in their culture. This environment creates a playground where creativity and productivity thrives.

London is one of the first cities where the biggest names in music, theatre, dance, cultural events and sports want to show their talent and there is never a shortage of interest. There are thousands of events for every taste day after day, week after week, year after year. And if that’s not enough, London has a one of the best transportation networks in the world, making it easy and affordable to get on the train and be in Paris in 1.5hours, or take a flight to Barcelona and sip a cocktail on the beach in a few hours. The only downside to London is that the city is such a great place to live that attracts too many people who relocate temporarily or permanently, casing a huge bubble in the property market and making traffic unbearable at times. Many services are pushed to the limit which makes Londoners come up with new creative solutions.

 

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Venice Water Taxi – The Complete Guide

venice water taxi complete tips and info

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, highly known for its architecture, culture and history, sited on a group of 118 small islands. In the past, it used to be called The Floating City due to the amount of water in the city.

Clearly, since the city’s primary element is water, Venice water taxi is fastest and most convenient type of transportation when it comes to reaching a hotel or a certain location.

What does Venice water taxi have to offer?

Some people consider this type of transport the best one in Venice, providing its customers with large spaces, open air seats and private captains, making your experience incredible. However, the prices can be a big expensive for some tourists’ pockets. A transport from the airport to your hotel can cost you around 100€ – 110€, depending on the location. A trip to the historic center and around it goes from 40€ to 70€, depending on the distance, the time of day, if you hired a water taxi in advance or on the spot using the phone.

Waterbuses, as they are called in Venice, have routes along the Grand Canal and its islands, so if you destination is within the Grand Canal, the Venice water taxi will take you to it.

            Supplement taxes are applied this way:

  • Six or more people have to pay an additional 10€ tax.
  • Between 10p.m and 7a.m, you will have to pay a night supplement of 10€
  • You are allowed 5 bags. More than 5, will cost you an additional 5€ per luggage.
  • On Sundays and Holidays you will be charged with additional 5.90€. Keep in mind that they can’t charge you both for Sunday and the night supplement.

            Here is some additional information that could help you:

  • An adult ticket available for 75 minutes is 7.50€. Stay clear of Alilaguna, Fusina, and Clodia lines, since the ticket is not available there. The ticket is good for 75 after validation.
  • For travelling between certain stops, Venice water taxi offers tickets at the price of 5€ one way and 10€ round trip.
  • If you plan on staying in Venice for a couple of days, take into consideration acquisitioning a two day, three day, seven day  travel card at the price of 20€, 30€, 40€ and 60€.

            These tickets can be used on fares and also on some buses. Make sure you check or ask which ones accept this type of cards.

How do I know which Venice water taxi I should take?

Although routes change from time to time, you can print out the ACTV’s route tables and take it with you to Venice. If uncertainty kicks in, check the tables before embarking on a fare.

            which venice water taxi to chooseHere is what you need to know:

  1. Sometimes boats come from both ways. Be absolutely sure of your destination before going on a boat.
  2. A few lines are seasonal, meaning they only work during summer.
  3. Venice water taxi might ignore a few stops or the trip might terminate before the end of the line. An electronic panel on the boat should let you know that.
  4. If you embark at a stop that does not have a ticket machine or office, talk to the conductor immediately, otherwise you risk getting a rather large fine because you travelled without a ticket.
  5. Validate your ticket before boarding Just hold the ticket in front of the electric machine until you hear a beep or see a green light. Then you are good to go.

There are a few location from which you can take a water bus, such as: Piazzale Roma, Stazione Marittima, San Marco, Rialto, Ferrovia etc. These stations are usually near important and major tourist destination.

What do I have to know about the ride itself?

The ride itself is comfortable and fast. You can sit back and admire the landscape while being taken to your destination. Taking a water taxi is one of the fastest options in Venice that can take you almost anywhere. Almost, because you might have to walk from where the boat is landing and where your hotel is. Most hotels do not have private docks and some of the canals are not reachable to  water taxi.

Also, the captain can’t leave his boat so if your baggage in big and heavy you might have to find a way of carrying it alone. The captain can help you by taking your luggage and handing it to you. At the same time, make sure you are ready to jump over a big gap between where the water taxi stops and the actual land.

As previously stated, many people prefer this way of transportation because it is faster, accessible and more comfortable. Be prepared to enjoy a nice trip with Venice water taxi while sitting back and admiring the view.